Carter Potter

Carter Jay Potter was born on November 23, 2010 at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas Valley, Nevada to Jessee and Sherry Potter; he was welcomed by his proud older brother, Aiden. In February 2015, Jessee, Aiden, and Carter moved to Philip, South Dakota, where he lived until his passing.

Carter could illuminate any room with his joy, kindness, and boundless curiosity. He asked endless questions and loved figuring out how things worked. Sometimes to his parents' dismay, he could be found taking things apart - broken or not - just for the challenge of figuring out how to put them back together. A bit of a risk-taker as well, Carter liked climbing to the top of the tall pine tree in his backyard from the time he was a small child.

Fueled by an innate passion for the outdoors, Carter's favorite pastimes were bass fishing and deer hunting with his dad, and camping and traveling with his family. He often reminisced about trips to see family in Michigan and couldn't wait to go back there for the next adventure. Carter also enjoyed being a part of the Philip Scotties junior high football team and hanging out with his cousins and friends.

After finishing the eighth grade in May, Carter spent most of his time at his favorite place - his grandparents' ranch in Creighton. There, he cherished his time with his Grandma Doris, sister Julie, and cousins, but he spent the majority of his time helping and looking up to his Papa Fred, learning the ins and outs of life on the ranch. Carter was particularly fond of raking hay and going fencing with his cousin Weston. The highlight of his summer was rebuilding a go cart with Papa Fred. They got it to run one time and, as Fred recalls, "his eyes lit up with excitement." Carter recently told Jessee and Rose that he was never going to leave the country because it was where he wanted to be and there was always work to be done. Although we were not ready and there is still work to be done, Carter's last breath was taken on June 23, 2025 - on the ranch he loved, doing what he loved.

Carter is lovingly remembered by his father and step-mother Jessee and Rose Potter of Philip and mother Sherry Potter of Nevada; brothers Aiden Potter and Jensen Finster; sister Julie Eisenbraun; maternal grandparents Fred and Doris Eisenbraun of Creighton and Tonie and John Sprague of Adrian, MI; paternal grandparents Kimberley and Bill Nicholas of Michigan and Jerry and Kim Sparkman of Michigan; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Creighton with Pastor Christopher McCarthy officiating.

Interment will follow at Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Creighton.

In honor of Carter the family requests that every one dresses casually as he always hated dressing up.

Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 14 Philip, SD 57567.

Service Details

FUNERAL SERVICE
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 - 10:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Creighton, South Dakota

OFFICIATING
Pastor Christopher McCarthy

MUSIC
"Children of the Heavenly Father"
"God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It"
"Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won"

USHERS
JT Moon - Josh Geigle

PALLBEARERS
Matthew Eisenbraun - Weston Koedam
Robert Meade - Nick Cox - Vicente Martinez
Devon Ehlers - Wes Potter

INTERMENT
Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Creighton, South Dakota

Guest Book

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